Info Tabs

Summer's coming early this year if Al Church has his way. His new solo LP, Next Summer, is a suite of pop confections conjuring up carefree days of his youth. His summers were filled with driving around with the windows rolled down bumping Dr. Dre's The Chronic and R.E.M.'s Monster. "My album is like [Monster], but with saxophone and keyboards instead of Peter Buck's guitar tremolo," the Duluth-raised multi-instrumentalist exclaims when the Athens alt-rock legends' "Strange Currencies" hits the speakers. He's with City Pages at Mackenzie Pub on a frigid night in downtown Minneapolis.

26 BATS! is composed of the members of music collective, Kriyative Emblems of a Blue Soul Renaissance. With their multi-genre influences including hip-hop, jazz, soul, and alternative rock, 26 BATS! creates music with no intention of boundaries of a genre. These jazz and blues trained musicians challenge their sound with their desire for sonic exploration. By using themes of self-realization and overcoming hate, this twin cities based band has full intentions of empowering and healing through the creation of music.

First known as the front-woman of ‘ethereal, synth-pop band’ Warehouse Eyes, Jennie Lawless has moved on to something more playful, earthly, and boy-less (her partner Chris Gale was the co-writer/producer in WE.) Her two-song EP Two Songs came out in early 2018. On this debut release, we hear the germ of Lawless’ sound—vocal loops, cheap synths, disarmingly direct lyrics, and—most prominently—her arresting voice. “I’m trying to unlearn the idea of music as competition,” says Lawless. “I’m just looking for a couple moments of actual connection.”

Mina Moore is a singer-song writer from Minneapolis. Her music draws from that of her upbringing, leaning heavily on soul, R&B, and inevitably, pop. Like so many of us, Mina's pallet is ever growing, and her live performances aim to educate as much as entertain. YSHEYELLIN is Mina Moore's DJ guise.